Schedule

1. Competition will be held Tuesday, June 7 - Thursday, June 9.

2. Debate events will be single-flighted if possible. Events with 50+ entries will do six preliminary rounds; events with fewer than 50 entries will do five preliminary rounds. All winning records will clear to a single-elimination bracket.

3. Live speech events will do four preliminary rounds. If there are 24-59 entries, we will break to a semifinal. If there are 60-99 entries, we will break to a quarterfinal. If there are 100+ entries, we will break to an octafinal. 

4. Asynchronous speech submissions will receive at least six ranks to determine placement.

5. Congress will do two preliminary rounds. If there are 20-40 entries, a final will be held. If there are 41+ entries, a semifinal will be held.

6. Select live event final rounds will be livestreamed to YouTube. All final rounds will be recorded and made available on the NDSA website after the tournament.

7. A virtual awards ceremony recognizing top-placing competitors and schools will be held Thursday evening. Read more about awards in the Middle School Unified Manual.

8. The schedule is in Central Time.

Tuesday, June 7 (Central Time)

Asynchronous Speech Ballots Published at 8:00 a.m. CT.

10:00 a.m. Mandatory meetings for students and judges.

12:30 p.m. R1 Debate/Speech/Congress

3:00 p.m. R2 Debate/Speech

5:30 p.m. R3 Debate/Speech

Wednesday, June 8 (Central Time)

10:00 a.m. R4 Debate/Speech & R2 Congress

12:30 p.m. R5 Debate/Speech

3:00 p.m. R6 Debate & Elim 1 Speech & Semifinals Congress (if needed)

5:30 p.m. Elim 1 Debate & Elim 2 Speech (if needed)

Thursday, June 9 (Central Time)

10:00 a.m. Elim 2 Debate & Elim 3 Speech (if needed)

12:00 p.m. Congress Final & Asynchronous Speech Ballots Due

12:30 p.m. Elim 3 Debate

3:00 p.m. Elim 4 Debate (if needed)

5:30 p.m. Elim 5 Debate (if needed)